Priest pleads guilty to corruption of minors

A suspended priest accused of performing sex acts on a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony corruption of minors.

The Rev. William Jeffrey Paulish, 57, of Blakely, entered the plea before Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse. He was arrested in September, after police found him and the teen in his car in the parking lot at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus.

The teenager, who wasn't wearing pants when police arrived, later told officials at the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeast Pennsylvania he performed oral sex on The Rev. Paulish.

The Citizens' Voice does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, according to the Rev. Paulish's attorney, Bernard Brown, who said his client is remorseful for his actions.

Brown said the Rev. Paulish decided to plead guilty to "spare the victim" from the legal process and having to testify.

"First and foremost, he wanted to accept responsibility," Brown said.

He said now his client is focusing on his rehabilitative needs.

"He'll be looking at certain avenues to show the court that this wasn't his normal nature," Brown said. "He's not somebody that preys on children."

In September, police discovered the Rev. Paulish in the backseat of his Toyota Venza with a 15-year-old boy. The Rev. Paulish first told police he had been working on a homily when he met the emotionally distressed boy by chance and sought to counsel him.

He later told officers he posted an advertisement on the "casual encounters" section of Craigslist. After they met in the Worthington parking lot, the Rev. Paulish told police he asked the boy three times if he was 18. Police papers do not indicate how the boy responded.

After they got into the vehicle, the "conversation turned sexual" and both took their pants off, an affidavit said. The Rev. Paulish told police the teen performed oral sex on him and the two engaged in mutual masturbation.

On Wednesday, diocese spokesman Bill Genello issued the following statement: "Since the time of his arrest, Father Paulish has been removed from ministry and his faculties to exercise priestly ministry suspended. With the cleric's entering a guilty plea today in Lackawanna County Court, he remains permanently suspended from ministry and the Diocese of Scranton will continue to pursue the canonical resolution of his status. This includes permanent dismissal from the clerical state."

Records of the Rev. Paulish's assignment history, provided by the diocese, showed he was reassigned 15 times during his 25-year career.

The Rev. Paulish served in several local parishes, including as assistant pastor at St. Cecilia's Parish in Exeter (1992), assistant pastor at Most Precious Blood Parish in Hazleton (1992-93); chaplain at Little Flower Manor in Wilkes-Barre (1994-2000); in residence at St. Cecilia's Parish (2006); administrator at St. Elizabeth Parish in Bear Creek (2008-11); and pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish (2010-11). At the time of his arrest, the Rev. Paulish was serving as assistant pastor at Prince of Peace Church in Old Forge.

His career included three leaves of absence before his fourth and most recent, stemming from the sexual misconduct charges.

Lackawanna County Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge said the Rev. Paulish's guilty plea and taking responsibility is the first step toward closure for the victim and the community.

"It's a horrible situation, but it can be made better by not dragging out the process and the victim not being further victimized," she said.

She said he could be sentenced in about three months, following several evaluations.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office and the diocese are both asking that anyone who may have had similar contact with the Rev. Paulish come forward to investigators by calling 570-963-6717 or local law enforcement.

rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT

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guilty plera

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